Fan assembly

ABSTRACT

A fan assembly for a refrigeration appliance includes a fan wheel and a bracket connected to the fan wheel. The fan wheel has a fan wheel latching element and the bracket has a bracket latching element. The fan wheel latching element and the bracket latching element form a latching connection when in contact with one another.

The invention relates to a fan assembly for a refrigeration appliance with a fan wheel and a bracket connected to said fan wheel.

Refrigeration appliances, particularly refrigeration appliances embodied as household appliances, are known and are used for household management applications in domestic environments or in the catering sphere, in order to store perishable foodstuffs and/or drinks at specific temperatures.

For the circulation of air, refrigeration appliances of this kind have a motor-driven fan, which has a fan wheel and a flange, wherein for assembly purposes the flange is connected to a bracket by means of screws. This assembly is then built in to a chilled goods container of the refrigeration appliance. The creation of a screw connection is however laborious, and can result in damage to the fan axle and/or the fan bearing. In addition, the creation of a screw connection may be subject to significant fluctuations in quality, because individual screws may be forgotten, or tightened insufficiently firmly.

It is thus the object underlying the invention to provide a fan assembly which is simpler to assemble.

This object is achieved by the subject matter with the features according to the independent claim. Advantageous developments are the subject of the dependent claims, the description and the drawings.

The present invention is based on the finding that the assembly can be simplified and fluctuations in quality reduced at the same time through the creation of a latching connection instead of a screw connection.

According to a first aspect, the inventive object is achieved in that the fan wheel has a fan wheel latching element and the bracket has a bracket latching element, wherein the fan wheel latching element and the bracket latching element being in contact with each other form a latching connection. The technical advantage is thereby achieved that the manufacture is simplified and at the same time the logistics effort for the manufacture reduced, as neither attachment means, such as screws, nor tools have to be held or provided for the creation of a screw connection. The quality is at the same time improved in that manufacture is less fault-prone due to the simplified assembly.

In one advantageous embodiment the fan wheel latching element has a recess, and the bracket latching element has a lug, wherein the lug engages in the recess. In a further embodiment the fan wheel latching element has a lug and the bracket latching element has a recess, wherein the lug engages in the recess. The technical advantage is thereby achieved that through engagement of the lug in the recess the connection of the fan wheel to the bracket is secured against undesired loosening.

In one advantageous embodiment the fan wheel has a flange, wherein the flange has a lateral surface, and the fan wheel latching element is arranged on the lateral surface. The technical advantage is thereby achieved that the flange is particularly simple to assemble.

In one advantageous embodiment the flange has an assembly torque support surface for fixing of the flange while assembling the fan assembly. The technical advantage is thereby achieved that with the assembly torque support surface the flange connected to the fan in a rotatable manner can be fixed about the axis of rotation of the fan. Damage to the fan during assembly can thus be avoided.

In one advantageous embodiment the assembly torque support surface is formed by a flat portion. The technical advantage is thereby achieved that the assembly torque support surface is particularly simple to assemble.

In one advantageous embodiment the flange has a multiplicity of fan wheel latching elements, which are arranged in the peripheral direction on the cylindrical lateral surface. The fan wheel latching elements can be arranged evenly or unevenly in the peripheral direction on the cylindrical lateral surface.

The technical advantage is thereby achieved that the forces to be absorbed are evenly distributed across all fan latching elements, and upon failure of one of the fan latching elements a secure connection between fan wheel and bracket is nevertheless maintained.

In one advantageous embodiment the multiplicity of fan wheel latching elements form a first fan wheel latching element group and a second fan wheel latching element group, wherein the fan wheel latching elements of the first fan wheel latching element group are arranged in the axial direction of an axis of rotation of the fan wheel offset relative to the fan wheel latching elements of the second fan wheel latching element group. The technical advantage is thereby achieved that the fan latching elements in interaction with the bracket latching elements effect fixing not just in a first direction of extension of the axis of rotation, but also in a second direction of extension, opposite to the first direction of extension. The position of the fan wheel in relation to the bracket is thus defined in both axial directions.

In one advantageous embodiment the bracket has a ring, wherein the ring is assigned to the bracket latching element. The technical advantage is thereby achieved that the bracket is particularly simple to manufacture.

In one advantageous embodiment the ring has an inner surface, on which the bracket latching element is arranged. The technical advantage is thereby achieved that the bracket is particularly simple to connect to a cylindrical flange.

In one advantageous embodiment the ring has a multiplicity of bracket latching elements, which are arranged in an evenly spaced manner in the peripheral direction on the inner surface. The technical advantage is thereby achieved that the forces to be absorbed are evenly distributed across all fan latching elements, and upon failure of one of the fan latching elements a secure connection between fan wheel and bracket is nevertheless maintained.

In one advantageous embodiment the multiplicity of bracket latching elements form a first bracket latching element group and a second bracket latching element group, wherein the fan wheel latching elements of the first bracket latching element group are arranged in the axial direction of the axis of rotation of the fan offset relative to the fan wheel latching elements of the second bracket latching element group. The bracket latching elements can be arranged evenly or unevenly in the axial direction of the axis of rotation of the fan.

The technical advantage is thereby achieved that the bracket latching elements in interaction with the fan latching elements effect fixing not just in a first direction of extension of an axis of rotation, but also in a second direction of extension opposite to the first direction of extension. The position of the fan wheel in relation to the bracket is thus defined in both axial directions.

In one advantageous embodiment the fan wheel latching element extends radially outward and the bracket latching element extends radially inward. The technical advantage is thereby achieved that the fan wheel and the bracket can be connected to each other by means of a rotational movement about the axis of rotation of the fan wheel. This simplifies assembly.

Further belonging to the invention are a fan wheel and a bracket for a fan assembly of this kind and an auxiliary device for assembling a fan assembly with a fan wheel and a bracket, wherein the auxiliary device has a reaction torque support surface, which in contact with an assembly torque support surface of a flange of the fan wheel fixes the flange in position during assembling of the fan assembly.

Further exemplary embodiments are explained with reference to the attached drawings, which:

FIG. 1 shows a section through a refrigeration appliance,

FIG. 2 shows an exploded diagram of the fan assembly,

FIG. 3 shows a three-dimensional representation of a first exemplary embodiment of a flange,

FIG. 4 shows a three-dimensional representation of a second exemplary embodiment of a flange,

FIG. 5 shows a three-dimensional representation of a bracket,

FIG. 6 shows a first step in the assembling of the fan assembly,

FIG. 7 shows a further step in the assembling of the fan assembly,

FIG. 8 shows a further step in the assembling of the fan assembly,

FIG. 9 shows a further step in the assembling of the fan assembly,

FIG. 10 shows a further step in the assembling of the fan assembly, and

FIG. 11 shows a further step in the assembling of the fan assembly.

FIG. 1 shows a refrigerator as an exemplary embodiment for a refrigeration appliance 100.

For the cooling of frozen or chilled goods the refrigeration appliance 100 has a refrigerant circuit with an evaporator 102, a compressor (not shown), a condenser (not shown) and a throttle valve (not shown).

The evaporator 102 is embodied as a heat exchanger, in which after an expansion the liquid refrigerant is evaporated by means of the absorption of heat from the medium to be cooled, that is to say air, in the interior of the refrigerator.

The compressor is a mechanically driven component, which sucks in refrigerant vapor from the evaporator and expels it at higher pressure to the condenser.

The condenser is embodied as a heat exchanger, in which after compression the evaporated refrigerant is liquefied through the transfer of heat to an external cooling medium, that is to say the ambient air.

The throttle valve is a device for the continuous reduction of the pressure by means of cross-sectional reduction.

The refrigerant is a fluid, which is used for the transfer of heat in the cold-generating system, which in the case of low temperatures and low pressure of the fluid absorbs heat and in the case of higher temperature and higher pressure of the fluid gives off heat, wherein this generally incorporates changes in the state of the fluid.

The refrigeration appliance 100 further has an interior compartment 104 to accommodate frozen or chilled goods, which in the present exemplary embodiment is surrounded by a heat-insulating layer of hardened foam 106.

In addition to the evaporator 102 a fan unit 130 with a fan assembly 108 and an air duct 110 are provided in the interior compartment 104.

In the present exemplary embodiment the air duct 110 has an air inlet aperture 112 and an air outlet aperture 114. During operation, air is sucked out of the interior compartment 104 by the fan assembly 108, introduced to the evaporator, and then conveyed back into the interior compartment 104 through the air outlet aperture 114 by the fan assembly 108.

In the present exemplary embodiment the fan assembly 108 is accommodated in a housing 116, which has an inlet, nozzle 118, through which air can enter the housing 116 from the air duct 110. In the present exemplary embodiment the air outlet aperture 114 is further assigned to the housing 116, so that in the present exemplary embodiment air can be conveyed from housing 116 directly into the interior compartment 104.

In the present exemplary embodiment the housing 116 has a housing front 120 and a housing rear 122. In the present exemplary embodiment both the housing front 120 and the housing rear 122 are made of plastic, for example by means of injection molding.

In the present exemplary embodiment the fan assembly 108 has a motor-driven fan wheel 124 and a bracket 126. In the present exemplary embodiment the fan wheel 124 is embodied as a radial fan. In the present exemplary embodiment the fan wheel 124 is connected to the bracket 126 by a latching connection 128, and the bracket 126 is connected to the housing 116.

It should be noted that in the present exemplary embodiment the fan assembly 108 is attached to the housing front 120. FIG. 1 further shows the air outlet aperture 114, which in the present exemplary embodiment is assigned to the housing front 120.

FIG. 2 shows an exemplary embodiment of the fan wheel 124 and of the bracket 126, which when put together form the fan assembly 108.

In the present exemplary embodiment the fan wheel 124 has a motor-driven fan 200 and a flange 202. In the present exemplary embodiment the fan 200 is mounted on the flange 202, being rotatable about an axis of rotation I. In the present exemplary embodiment the fan 200 has a multiplicity of guide surfaces 204 for the conveyance of air.

In the present exemplary embodiment the flange 202 has a first cylindrical section 206 and a second cylindrical section 208 in the direction of extension of the axis of rotation I.

In the present exemplary embodiment the first cylindrical section 206 has two assembly torque support surfaces 210, of which only one may be seen in FIG. 2. As will be described later on, the assembly torque support surfaces 210 serve to fix the flange 202 in place while assembling the fan assembly 108. In the present exemplary embodiment the two assembly torque support surfaces 210 are formed in each case by a flat portion 212.

In the present exemplary embodiment the second cylindrical section 208 has a cylindrical lateral surface 214. In the present exemplary embodiment a multiplicity of fan wheel latching elements 216 are provided on the cylindrical lateral surface 214, which are arranged on the cylindrical lateral surface 214 evenly spaced in the peripheral direction. Further, the fan wheel latching elements 216 extend radially outward in the present exemplary embodiment.

In the present exemplary embodiment the fan latching elements 216 form a first fan wheel latching element group 218 and a second fan wheel latching element group 220, wherein the fan wheel latching elements 216 of the first fan wheel latching element group 218 are arranged in the direction of extension of the axis of rotation I of the fan 200 offset relative to the fan wheel latching elements 216 of the second fan wheel latching element group 220.

In the present exemplary embodiment each fan wheel latching element 216 further has a recess 222. In the present exemplary embodiment the fan wheel latching elements 216 of the first fan wheel latching element group 218 are oriented toward the bracket 126, while the fan wheel latching elements 216 of the second fan wheel latching element group 220 display an opposite orientation, that is away from the bracket 126.

In the present exemplary embodiment the bracket 126 has a ring 224, to which are connected three arms 226. Each of the three arms 226 has in each case a decoupling element 230 on its distal end 228, which is intended to reduce the transmission of mechanical vibrations from the fan assembly 108 to the refrigeration appliance 100. To this end the decoupling elements 230 in the present exemplary embodiment are manufactured from an elastic material, for example rubber.

In the present exemplary embodiment the ring 224 has an inner surface 232, on which are provided a multiplicity of bracket latching elements 234, which are arranged on the inner surface 232 evenly spaced in the peripheral direction. The bracket latching elements 234 further extend radially inward in the present exemplary embodiment.

In the present exemplary embodiment the bracket latching elements 234 form a first bracket latching element group 236 and a second bracket latching element group 238, wherein the bracket latching elements 234 of the first bracket latching element group 236 are arranged in the direction of extension of the axis of rotation I of the fan 200 offset relative to the bracket latching elements 234 of the second bracket latching element group 238.

In the present exemplary embodiment each bracket latching element 234 further has a lug 240. In the present exemplary embodiment the bracket latching elements 234 of the first bracket latching element group 236 are here oriented toward the flange 202, while the bracket latching elements 234 of the second bracket latching element group 238 display an opposite orientation, that is away from the flange 202. The lugs 240 can thus engage in the respective recesses 222, and form the latching connection 128.

FIG. 3 is a further view of the flange 202. The two assembly torque support surfaces 210 and the six fan wheel latching elements 216 each with a recess 222 in the present exemplary embodiment are to be noted here.

FIG. 4 shows a further exemplary embodiment of a flange 202. This exemplary embodiment corresponds to the previous exemplary embodiment, with the difference that the assembly torque support surfaces 210 are here embodied as arc sections 400.

FIG. 5 is a further view of the bracket 126. The ring 224 and the three arms 226 and the six bracket latching elements 234 each with a lug 240 arranged on the inner surface 232 of the ring 224 in the present exemplary embodiment are to be noted here.

The assembly of the fan assembly 108 will now be explained on the basis of FIGS. 6 to 11.

FIG. 6 shows in an exemplary embodiment an auxiliary device 700 used in assembly. The auxiliary device 700 has two reaction torque support surfaces 702, which are embodied in complementary form to the assembly torque support surfaces 210.

In a first step the flange 202 of the fan wheel 124 is introduced in such a way that the two reaction torque support surfaces 702 come into contact with the assembly torque support surfaces 210 (see FIG. 7). The flange 202 is thus secured against an undesired twisting about the axis of rotation I.

In a further step the bracket 126 is lowered onto the flange 202, until it lies on the flange 202 (see FIG. 9).

In a further step the bracket 126 is rotated about the axis of rotation I, in the present exemplary embodiment by 30°. The fan wheel latching elements 216 are hereby brought into contact with the bracket latching element 234 and twisted relative to each other, until the lugs 240 engage in the recesses 222 and thus secure the connection between the fan wheel 124 and the bracket 126 against undesired loosening.

In a step completing the assembly the ready-assembled fan assembly 108, consisting of the fan wheel 124 and the bracket 126, is removed from the auxiliary device 700.

LIST OF REFERENCE CHARACTERS

-   100 Refrigeration appliance -   102 Evaporator -   104 Interior compartment -   106 Foam -   108 Fan assembly -   110 Air duct -   112 Air inlet aperture -   114 Air outlet aperture -   116 Housing -   118 Inlet nozzle -   120 Housing front -   122 Housing rear -   124 Fan wheel -   126 Bracket -   128 Latching connection -   130 Fan unit -   200 Fan -   202 Flange -   204 Guide surface -   206 First cylindrical section -   208 Second cylindrical section -   210 Assembly torque support surface -   212 Flat portion -   214 Lateral surface -   216 Fan wheel latching element -   218 First fan wheel latching element group -   220 Second fan wheel latching element group -   222 Recess -   224 Ring -   226 Arm -   228 Distal end -   230 Decoupling element -   232 Inner surface -   234 Bracket latching element -   236 First bracket latching element group -   238 Second bracket latching element group -   240 Lug -   400 Arc section -   700 Auxiliary device -   702 Reaction torque support surface -   I Axis of rotation 

1-15. (canceled)
 16. A fan assembly for a refrigeration appliance, the fan assembly comprising: a fan wheel having a fan, a flange rotatably connected to said fan and a fan wheel latching element; said flange having a lateral surface on which said fan wheel latching element is disposed, and said flange having an assembly torque support surface for fixing said flange during assembly of the fan assembly; a bracket connected to said fan wheel and having a bracket latching element; and said fan wheel latching element and said bracket latching element forming a latching connection when in contact with each other.
 17. The fan assembly according to claim 16, wherein: one of said fan wheel latching element or said bracket latching element has a recess; the other of said fan wheel latching element or said bracket latching element has a lug; and said lug engages in said recess.
 18. The fan assembly according to claim 16, wherein said assembly torque support is formed by a flat portion.
 19. The fan assembly according to claim 16, wherein said fan wheel latching element is one of a multiplicity of fan wheel latching elements (216) disposed on said lateral surface of said flange in a peripheral direction.
 20. The fan assembly according to claim 19, wherein: said fan wheel has an axis of rotation defining an axial direction; said multiplicity of fan wheel latching elements form a first fan wheel latching element group and a second fan wheel latching element group; and said fan wheel latching elements of said first fan wheel latching element group are offset in said axial direction relative to said fan wheel latching elements of said second fan wheel latching element group.
 21. The fan assembly according to claim 16, wherein said bracket has a ring, and said bracket latching element is associated with said ring.
 22. The fan assembly according to claim 21, wherein said ring has an inner surface on which said bracket latching element is disposed.
 23. The fan assembly according to claim 22, wherein said bracket latching element is one of a multiplicity of bracket latching elements spaced evenly along said inner surface of said ring in a peripheral direction.
 24. The fan assembly according to claim 23, wherein: said fan wheel has an axis of rotation defining an axial direction; said multiplicity of bracket latching elements form a first bracket latching element group and a second bracket latching element group; and said bracket latching elements of said first bracket latching element group are offset in said axial direction relative to said bracket latching elements of said second bracket latching element group.
 25. The fan assembly according to claim 16, wherein said fan wheel latching element extends radially outward and said bracket latching element extends radially inward.
 26. A fan wheel for a fan assembly according to claim
 16. 